High Society

High Society

Card Game
Players
3-5
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
4 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
30 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
1.5 / 5
Year
1995

About the game

High Society is a fast-playing Reiner Knizia bidding game in which players auction off cards representing wealth and status while trying to avoid the negative cards that come with them. Bidding uses your own limited cash, and here's the twist: whoever has the least money left at the end is disqualified from winning entirely, no matter how many status cards they've collected. That tension between acquiring luxury and preserving your fortune makes every bid a nail-biter.

Hobbli's Notes

Hobbli adores High Society as one of the tightest, most tension-filled small-box games around. Its rule that the poorest player is eliminated from winning creates constant, delicious pressure at every auction.

What we like

  • Extremely quick to teach and play, around 30 minutes.
  • Clever risk-reward bidding creates constant tension.
  • Small footprint makes it easy to bring anywhere.
  • A timeless, tightly designed classic auction game.

Keep in mind

  • Can feel harsh for players who fall behind on cash early.
  • Lower strategic depth compared to heavier auction games.
  • Card order luck can meaningfully affect individual games.

Who it's for

Fans of bidding games and quick, tense fillers will enjoy this with three to five players, ages 10 and up.

Mechanics

Auction / BiddingHand Management

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